Upcoming Exhibitions

Joseph Clayes III Gallery

34th Annual Juried Exhibition

Juror: Paul Mpagi Sepuya

August 1–October 9, 2026

Opening Reception: Friday, July 31, 2026, 5:30–7:30 PM

One of the most prestigious juried shows in San Diego, selected artists will exhibit their work in our galleries, receive excellent exposure, and mingle with both artists and art lovers at an opening reception. Prize winners, including the recipient of the Leslie Von Kolb Memorial Award, will be announced at the opening reception. Free and open to the public.

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library has announced the 42 artists selected for its 34th Annual Juried Exhibition, one of the region's most anticipated showcases of contemporary art. Chosen by internationally acclaimed photographer and artist Paul Mpagi Sepuya, the exhibition features 48 works by artists from across the San Diego–Tijuana region and will be on view August 1 through October 9, 2026.

This year, 357 artists submitted more than 1,000 works for consideration. Sepuya selected the final group of artists, whose work reflects the breadth of contemporary artistic practice in the binational region. The exhibition brings together both emerging and established artists working across a range of media, perspectives, and approaches.

A Los Angeles based artist and photographer, Sepuya is internationally recognized for work that explores portraiture, authorship, race, sexuality, and the photographic medium. His work is held in the collections of major institutions including the Getty, LACMA, the Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, Tate Modern, the Stedelijk Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Sepuya also serves as an Associate Professor in Visual Arts at UC San Diego.

“One of the pleasures is getting to learn about hundreds of local talented artists through their submissions, and spending time looking closely at their work,” said Sepuya. “It allows me a unique opportunity to expand my knowledge of San Diego-area artists alongside my investment in students at UC San Diego campus where I teach. There are always more amazing artists than there is space to exhibit, and so the selection process was difficult and I want to encourage every applicant to continue in their pursuit and growth as an artist.”

Artists in the exhibition: Armando Aguilar, Tiffany Anderson, Stefanie Bales, Rachael Bertholino, Roni Breite, Carlos Castillo, Annie Claflin, Sheeva Davari, Kat Flyn, Christa Forrest, Lenny Gerard, Fritz Goeckner, Adrian Gomez, Abby Hanneman, Jill Marie Holslin, Barbara Inbody, Jessamyn Kaback, Aleya Lanteigne, Alejandro Leon, Alan Luna, Tina Mardan, Maya Grace Misra, Lori Mitchell, Benjamin Montag, Claudia Moreno, H.L. Myers, Ari Nathan, Milla Nelson, Phuc Ha Nguyen, Noelle Ocen-Odoge, Susan Osborn, Priyanka Pathak, Ana Maria Phelps, Jan Posvar, Nate Riedel, Ana Saad, Brandon Tani, Pasquale Verdicchio, Danny Warhole, Bay Weli, Helena Westra, and Cat Wilder. 

Our juror this year is artist Paul Mpagi Sepuya. Visit ljathenaeum.org/juried-exhibition for updates.

Catherine and Robert Palmer Gallery

Ess Whiteley

August 22–October 17, 2026

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 22, 5–8 PM

Check back soon for more info!